ENRUES
All penalties

Illegal block in the back

Penalty: Offense, Defense, Special teams

What it is

A player pushes an opponent from behind, above the knees, when the opponent is not the ball carrier.

The penalty

The penalty is 10 yards from the spot of the foul. The penalty is enforced from the spot of the foul. If it is called on a return, the returning team starts its drive that much farther from the goal.

More detail

It is common on kickoff and punt returns, where blockers run back toward their own goal and end up hitting players from behind.

Animated play

101020203030404050504040303020201010END ZONEEND ZONEXShoves him in the backIllegal block in the back10 yards backA defender chases the runner.A blocker pushes him in the back instead of walling him off.

Blue circles are the team with the ball. X marks the other team. The yellow oval is the ball.

  1. A defender is chasing the ball carrier down the field.
  2. A blocker catches him and pushes him from behind, above the knees.
  3. The officials flag an illegal block in the back: ten yards from the spot of the foul.